[CoolNard]

Originally Posted by annelie82

Ignorance really is the only plausible explanation, I believe. People simply don't give Japanese anime a proper chance - they sit down and watch one episode of one single show for like five minutes, then decide that they don't like it and that all anime is just like Western cartoons. Very annoying.

Haha... So that's basically it then? Ignorance is the sole factor of obstruction between people and anime? How do you propose we sought out a breakthrough for them if that's the case? O.o

Originally Posted by annelie82

Selective perception could be another explanation. People only see what they want to see. And what they want to see is something that fits with their preconceived ideas of what anime is about. A person with the idea that anime only revolves around pointless, gory violence will obviously only pay attention to these aspects (rare though they may be) of a show or episode when they watch it.

But isn't ignorance the human nature which gives birth to this self-categorization? And vice versa, carrying on this continuous chain of discrimination? Thus, assuming we're able to erase ignorance, I believe selective perception should be gotten rid of in the process as well?
I could think of a common aspect many anime share, and which most people blocking them out seem to agree upon: most of the storylines are fictional. However, they don't know one thing too: That these storylines consist of deep, profound messages which takes a mature mind to comprehend.
This is the main line which separates cartoons from anime, I guess.

Originally Posted by annelie82

Part of the reason I started watching anime was that I wanted to learn Japanese. My mum initially made fun of me for being near twenty-five and watching "cartoons", but I just shrugged it off and the other week she (out of sheer curiosity, I reckon) actually sat down and watched an entire episode with me. I dare even say that she enjoyed it.

How did you manage to persuade her? My parents are still as stiff as ever. -.-"

Originally Posted by annelie82

Yeah, you're describing me, for one. When I was younger I used to poke fun at the so-called nerds in my class who read manga and watched star trek and stuff, until I started dating one of them. He completely changed my mind about what it meant to be nerdy.

Congratulations and welcome to the world of the geeks (even though I still don't get why people who choose to divide their attention to colorful, less-boring-than-reality fantasies are classified as 'nerds' O_O), lol! Hmm... now where have I heard that story before?

Oh and it's been said that anime is or is becoming a huge part of the global financial economy, giving rise to conventions and stuff like that. All the more you've just gotta love 'em! XD~!